The 2012 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Press conference went well this morning. Galen Rupp, Dejan Gebremeskel, Don Cabral and Andy Baddeley were on the panel.
Galen Rupp looks relaxed and confident. He has run a 3:57.15 mile and a 3:50.92 mile last weekend. Rupp went home to Portland “to be with my wife and work on my speed.” He admitted that the mile was giving him confidence and that he want to run fast. Rupp is ready to roll, and I mean AR (7:32.43, Bernard Lagat) roll.
Dejan Gebremeskel is the Olympic silver medalist in the 5,000 meters. ” Last time I ran 3000 meter here, I ran with one shoe. I will keep both shoes on (smiles).” Later, Dejan tells RBR that he wants the meet record of 7:34. ” I will break the meet record.”
Alberto Salazar, Galen’s coach had told me last weekend, via text, that he was hoping for a fast pace. I believe that Rupp and Gebremeskel will take it out hard and see who can hold on at the end. With two Olympic silver medalists in the race, this could be fascinating!
Don Cabral is a well-spoken distance runner. ” I have never run this fast this early in the season…I come at the steeple from a position of strength. I am more worried about a guy with 5k experience than a guy with 1,500 meter experience..I want to make a statement on the world stage, I am looking forward to running fast! ”
Andy Baddeley loves racing in the US. “The crowds here are much different than in the UK. The crowds here are louder and get into the races.” Baddeley is fit, and he could be a real factor in any race he commits to run.
Watch for more to come this evening!
The 2013 New Balance Indoor Games is from 5-8 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2013. The meet will be shown live on ESPN3.com, 5-8 pm EST and also on ESPN 2 on Sunday, February 3, 2013, with a rebroadcast slightly different from the live show.
